Instrument Suggestions

[raysilverstone]

I’m pulling out my hair because my photos are not printing the way I see them on my monitors.  I’m trying to figure out what is an inexpensive option to get this problem fixed.

I have 3 displays. 1 is Samsung TV the other 2 are Dell S2330MX.

I purchased a Spyder 2 on ebay that is either too old or junk.  It was reading my Samsung was low on green and when I finally got it where it was reading in the middle the monitor looked awful. It was way off.
I’m trying to decide if I should take the risk of buying a different used instrument or rent one.
I was thinking if I’m going the used route to try the X-Rite ColorMunki Display or the X-Rite Smile
I’m not sure if this model is DisplayCAL compatible.  If so that’s my option for renting.
Any help would be great!

[Florian Höch]

Colorimeters are not suitable for printer profiling. You need a spectrometer, i.e. the i1 Studio (same as ColorMunki Design/Photo) or i1 Pro 2.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Florian Höch.

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[raysilverstone]

So I’m mainly printing pictures of my kids using Walmart photo once or twice a year.  All my other photos are going online.  Usually, the photos I post online are just fine at least I’ve never gotten any complaints about them.
Spectrometers look to be pretty pricy.  Is this one considered a spectrometer? https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/colormunki
I see that is says it’s a ColoMunki Photo.  I’m not using my own printer so would I just print out one of the color swatches to Walmart and have the reader read those results?
Should I use the Photo dropdown in DisplayCAL when measuring the monitor?

[Florian Höch]

I’m not using my own printer so would I just print out one of the color swatches to Walmart and have the reader read those results?

I’m not really sure how stable or uniform those Walmart printers are, so I don’t really think profiling them makes sense as it would just be a snapshot of that specific printer in the specific condition it was in at the time.

[raysilverstone]

I’m not using my own printer so would I just print out one of the color swatches to Walmart and have the reader read those results?

I’m not really sure how stable or uniform those Walmart printers are, so I don’t really think profiling them makes sense as it would just be a snapshot of that specific printer in the specific condition it was in at the time.

Would you suggest I at least start with a Colorimeter like the X-Rite Smile? That way I’m at least getting my display to show correctly for online posting? I found a used device for $20.

[Florian Höch]

I wouldn’t bother with the Smile at this point. The ColorMunki Display on the other hand has been re-branded to i1 Display Studio, so you may be able to get the former for cheap as vendors are selling off old stock.

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